Planning ahead for a stay-at-home visit with our granddaughter
Posted By RichC on July 22, 2020
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Testing a security update on the blog: Which guy is older?
Posted By RichC on July 21, 2020
After updating a few security features on this server, there is/was a problem (?) in posting to MyDesultoryBlog.com. So as an update test, I’ll add a couple photos.
The subject line question is really a trick question since the photo on the right was taken a day before the one on the left a couple of days ago… and my wife Brenda is correct: “the beard just makes me look old!”
Skywatchers: Grab your binoculars – Comet NEOWISE viewing
Posted By RichC on July 21, 2020
If you enjoy nighttime sky watching, the next couple of days will have Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) at its closest point for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Hopefully the sky will remain clear and you’ll be able to see the “beautiful crescent” of this 3 mile wide glow. I’ve personally yet to see it (requires binoculars or long lens assistance), but according to earthsky.org, July 22-23, 2020 will bring NEOWISE 64 million miles from earth. Take a look off to the west-northwest under the Big Dipper.
Music Monday: Remembering my Glen Campbell listening days
Posted By RichC on July 20, 2020
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A special breaching round is used in shotguns to destroy locks, knobs and hinges, then immediately disperse into powder
Posted By RichC on July 19, 2020
I learned something new about firearms when reading and posting about the Coconut Rifle and it was interesting enough to me to include on the blog this week.
Did you know Law Enforcement and the military (US Marine practicing in photo) uses something called a “breaching round” in their shotguns or accessory attachment like the “MasterKey” in order to enter locked doors?
The round is made of frangible copper or metal powder and fused together. It blasts the lock/hinges and then crumbles apart so as not to endanger people behind or around the door … but is lethal if fired at a human target.
To shut down or not to shut down, that is the question – Hamlet
Posted By RichC on July 18, 2020
As politicians and most of us in the United States (and probably world) debate how to live under the shadow of the Coronavirus pandemic, researchers, doctors and academics are flooding
the Internet with studies and opinions both for and against opening up the country. Some have our best interest at heart … and likely some are playing politics – at least that is my cynical view.
Like most people, I certainly don’t want to suffer the economic and long lasting harm that comes from shutting down again unnecessarily, but also don’t want to accelerate deaths due to being careless. Perhaps that’s why I’m “playing the mask game” and reducing my unnecessary social activities; yes, staying home more than usual (my new neck gaiter face covering with exaggerated “lips” photo for the humor – don’t tell Brenda since I bought her too – her birthday is coming).
My son, Taylor is back working from home as his office closed again due to someone with COVID19. He’s fine, just depressed having to work from his apartment again. I hope he’ll continue to take a few hikes on the weekends if only to get some exercise outside and clear his head. I can’t image what this does for a person’s mental health, particularly those who struggle with depression in normal times?
Back to my point: I read an article this week focused on shutting downs verses remaining open. Although much has been made and conclusions interpreted one way or the other, depending how you “want” to interpret the data, the look at Sweden has them looking reasonable considering they remained open when other countries and states locked down. Who knows how to calculate the economic and psychological costs of shutting down a country?
The first thing one notices about the comparison is that Sweden was able to “flatten the curve,” so to speak. Though the phrase is largely forgotten today, flattening the curve was originally the entire purpose of the lockdowns. To the extent that there was a scientific basis for lockdowns, it was in the idea that they were a temporary measure designed to help hospitals avoid being overwhelmed by sick patients.
If flattening the curve was the primary goal of policymakers, Sweden was largely a success. New York, on the other hand, was not, despite widespread closures and strict enforcement of social distancing policies.
The reason New York failed and Sweden succeeded probably has relatively little to do with the fact that bars and restaurants were open in Sweden. Or that New York’s schools were closed while Sweden’s were open. As Weiss explains, the difference probably isn’t related to lockdowns at all. It probably has much more to do with the fact that New York failed to protect the most at-risk populations: the elderly and infirm.
“Here’s the good news: You can shut down businesses or keep them open. Close schools or stay in session. Wear masks or not,” says Weiss, a graduate of Harvard Business School. “The virus will make its way through in either case, and if we protect the elderly then deaths will be spared.”
Worth repeating … “.. and if we protect the elderly then deaths will be spared.”
Keep your guard up. for SPAM and SCAM text messages/calls
Posted By RichC on July 17, 2020
If you’ve had your cellphone number for any length of time (or were assigned someone else’s number), you do get text spam and scam phone calls. Some unscrupulous callers have refined their trickery to the point it can be difficult to know who and when to take a call seriously. Previous MyDesultoryBlog posts broached the subject and suggested ideas such as blocking, rejecting and reporting .. but none are foolproof (or have been all that helpful). The best approach is still to remain skeptical of everything and checking a few databases of reported numbers.
Government sites, in my opinion, are worthless and the FTC does little to deter r even slow those who are running scams. Private sites seem a little bit better only because they are at least willing to publicize (so you can look up) the rapidly changing spam and scam phone numbers. I have found nomorobo.com helpful (another in a growing list of user supported databases). Give it a try if you need to check on a voicemail or text message.
Love our current vehicles, but do miss my VW Jetta TDI #TBT
Posted By RichC on July 16, 2020
The publicity around Ford’s new “bucking” Bronco for 2021 had me thinking about cars this week … as well as seeing a post from 12 years ago highlighting 100,000 odometer reading on Katelyn’s first car.
Bronco aside, a few of my favorite vehicles are running through my head, but have a special soft spot my 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI .. perfect a Throwback Thursday #TBT post 
(photo below at a rest area in Bemus Point New York on Lake Chautauqua).
Besides the little VW being a car that suited my sales and commuting back and forth from northeastern Ohio (and to check on my in-laws in Jamestown, NY), it also entertained my car-tweaking needs .. 
along with a social community and regular GTGs (CinciTDI and the TDIClub). Besides injectors and a new chip tune … adding things like a Caterpillar 2-micron fuel filter (left), a Panzer skidplate and vanity BIODZL license plate (above) made it “my car.”
Since the thrifty car was a diesel, and regularly came close to 50mpg (even with the performance tweaks), the little car also appealed to me as a driver and my desire to be frugal with a focus on renewable Ohio grown fuels (soybean biodiesel). I also enjoyed participating in the Kentucky-Ohio leg of the “across the US” Biodiesel Rally as well as participating in events and promoting algae-based biodiesel. All in all, it was a great car although a bit small for me and definitely too small when traveling with the family.
Wishing it away. Unfortunately the 3-mo delayed Tax Day is today
Posted By RichC on July 15, 2020
The pandemic delayed April 15th Tax Day for Americans’ 2019 taxes is now upon us and for those who have not filed, you have until 11:59 tonight to do it … unless you request an extension until October 15th. We can try to wish it away like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, but as the idiom goes, “nothing is certain but death and taxes.”
For most of us who owe Uncle Sam money, having a few months more to pay just allows us to remain frustrated; it is both a blessing and a curse. I appreciated the reprieve, but that just meant the inevitable was coming. Thankfully in our case, the under-withholding penalty part isn’t going to break the bank. As I say every year, “next year I’ll be early and get the withholding right.”
By shifting the deadline, the federal government allowed individuals and businesses to hold onto their cash longer as they dealt with the fallout from the virus outbreak. The three-month delay injected about $300 billion of liquidity into the economy, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Taxpayers must file or seek an extension by today — or face a financial penalty.
As of June 26, the IRS had processed about 128.5 million returns, down 10.6 percent from last year. By comparison, it had received about 140 million returns, a drop of just 3.5 percent from the same time last year. The agency has issued roughly 93 million refunds so far, down 10.3 percent from this point in 2019.
If you haven’t filed yet, here’s what you need to know: MORE
Things I should know by now – Unistrut Connecting System
Posted By RichC on July 15, 2020
“So that’s what this is for?”
I had a “duh” moment the other day when sifting through subscribed emails from vendors.
A company called OnlineMetals.com sends out educational marketing emails to customers who enjoy working with metal. I’ve used them as a supplier for a variety of small projects as a source for steel and aluminum tubing and angle material (tile topped table, airplane parts, minivan shelf/workbench & generator cage, etc) … so I am not quick to toss their emails without glancing at them.
A recent email contained information on the Unistrut® connecting system. I’ve seen the steel channels before and know they are used regularly in building commercial shelves and storage ranks. I used a different rack system (heavier duty) in my CPP dock storage area in Cuyahoga Falls, but remembered seeing the “no weld” system as an option. They are attractive because is much more difficult to fit a standard length welded warehouse storage system than to quickly cut to length and bolt together customize racks. In this case I never “connected” (pun intended) the parts on my workbench to the Unistrut system.
The point of this post is that I inherited a bag of “fittings” from my Dad and not really knowing what the fittings were used for… now I know!
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.